"He was known to the world as the Lion
of the Senate, a
champion of social justice, and a political icon," said Schwarzenegger,
a well-known Republican in a famously Democratic family. "Most
importantly, he was the rock of our family: a loving
husband, father, brother and uncle. He was a man of great faith and
character."

After flirting with presidential ambition and battling his own private demons and the aftermath of the Chappaquiddick
incident, Kennedy turned himself into a powerhouse of Senate
effectiveness. Partnering with key Republicans, he helped enact the
Americans With Disabilities Act, increased the minimum wage, and
enacted COBRA health insurance for the unemployed and Title IX parity
for women in school sports. (An earlier version of this post
incorrectly identified the provision of federal law dealing with parity
for women in sports as Title IV.)

“I have personally benefited and grown from his experience
and advice, and I know countless others have as well," the governor said.
“Teddy taught us all that public service isn't a hobby or even an occupation,
but a way of life and his legacy will live on."

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo: Kennedy at the dedication of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center in Waltham, Mass., in October 1970. Credit: Associated Press